Maintaining cleanliness of birdbaths and other liquid containers

Abstract

An animal water bowl assembly is maintained clean by allowing a bowl to dry out after a use period, before refilling. Uses include: birdbath and pet and farm animal watering. Two bowls can be coordinated so that one is in use with water while one is drying out. A two-faced assembly with oppositely facing bowls can automatically coordinate the steps for the two bowls. The process of filling a bowl, allowing it to be used, emptying it, filling another, allowing it to be used while the first dries out, can be automated with an actuator and a controller. An animal water bowl assembly has at least two bowls, with means for coordinating the filling and use and drying steps. As an example, a two faced bowl is rotatable around an axis. An electronic controller opens a valve to provide power to a hydraulic actuator, which flips the two faced bowl to empty the first and present the second for filling. Filling with water occurs automatically, also using water from the hydraulic source. Many versions only require a user to set a duration on a controller, during which time hydraulic power is provided, which duration is sufficient to flip and fill the two bowls of an assembly. Flipping and filling occur automatically at the right times. A user interface has a single valve, and a single cycle. The user sets a period for activation, and the duration that power is provided. More than two bowls can be used. Electromechanical, rather than hydraulic power can be used to actuate the assembly.

1. A method for maintaining an animal water bowl, said method, comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a first bowl, having a concave surface;  
 b. providing said first bowl with water;  
 c. allowing water to remain in said first bowl for animal use;  
 d. at a time before any significant quantity of matter has become adhered to said first bowl surface, removing substantially all of said water from said first bowl;  
 e. allowing said first bowl to remain empty for a period of time sufficient for said surface of said first bowl to dry off;  
 f. repeating said steps b, providing water, through e, allowing to remain empty;  
 g. providing a second bowl, having a concave surface;  
 h. providing said second bowl with water;  
 i. allowing water to remain in said second bowl for animal use;  
 j. at a time before any significant quantity of matter has become adhered to said second bowl surface, removing substantially all of said water from said second bowl;  
 k. allowing said second bowl to remain empty for a period of time sufficient for said surface of said second bowl to dry off;  
 l. repeating said steps, h, providing water, through k, drying, regarding said second bowl; and  
 m. coordinating said steps regarding said first bowl: b, providing water to said first bowl, through e, allowing said first bowl surface to dry, relative to said steps regarding said second bowl: h, providing water to said second bowl through k, drying said second bowl surface, such that at substantially all times, at least one of said first and second bowls contains water for animal use.  
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1 , said step of coordinating comprising providing a bowl assembly, having bowl surfaces that face away from each other such that when said first bowl is concave surface facing upward, said second bowl is concave facing in a direction such that it does not retain liquid, and such that when said second bowl is concave surface facing upward, said first bowl is concave facing in a direction such that it does not retain liquid. 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of automatically driving said bowl assembly to move said first bowl from being concave surface facing upward to concave surface facing in a direction such that it does not retain liquid, and to move said second bowl to a position with said concave surface facing upward with an actuating assembly. 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the step of powering said actuating assembly by water pressure power. 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 4 , said step of automatically driving comprising initiating said action of said actuating assembly with a timer. 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the step of powering said actuating assembly by electrical power. 
   
   
     7. A bowl assembly, comprising:
 a. a plurality of at least two bowls, each having a concave surface, said bowls arranged with their concave surfaces facing generally away from an axis;  
 b. a couple that couples said bowls rotatably to an axle arranged so that said bowls rotate together about said common axis,  
 c. a releasable catch, which, when engaged, restrains said plurality of bowls in a fixed rotational position, with one of said bowls concave surface facing upward;  
 d. said bowls further configured and arranged, such that when one bowl is concave surface facing upward, said other at least one bowls are distributed around said axis, such that when said concave upward facing bowl contains water, the combined at least two bowls have a center of gravity that is spaced laterally from said axis, such that when said catch releases said bowls allowing them to rotate about said axis, said bowls rotate together such that a second of said at least two bowls is brought to a concave surface upward facing position, as said first bowl tilts, and empties out said contained water.  
 
   
   
     8. The bowl assembly of  claim 7 , said plurality comprising three bowls. 
   
   
     9. The bowl assembly of  claim 7 , said plurality comprising four bowls. 
   
   
     10. The bowl assembly of  claim 7 , said plurality comprising five bowls. 
   
   
     11. The bowl assembly of  claim 7 , said catch comprising spring loaded pin catch. 
   
   
     12. The bowl assembly of  claim 7 , said catch comprising a cam surface and mating cam follower assembly. 
   
   
     13. The bowl assembly of  claim 12 , said cam follower assembly comprising a spring loaded cam follower assembly.